Mandrel with wire retainer

A method of attaching a wire to be wound around a mandrel to the mandrel, comprising:

• providing a mandrel having (i) a central element, (ii) a plurality of arms rotatably coupled to said central element, said plurality of arms each including a first end coupled to said central element and a second end, (iii) a plurality of segments radially extending about and respectively coupled to said central element by said plurality of arms at respective said second ends thereof, said plurality of segments and said plurality of arms adapted to permit said mandrel to assume a collapsed first position with said segments relatively nearer to said central element and to assume an extended second position with said segments relatively further from said central element, each of said plurality of segments including an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface defining a slot in which said respective second end of a respective arm extends, with a first of said plurality of segments defining a radially extending groove in an outer surface of that segment, said groove and said slot of said first segment intersecting along only a portion of said groove and along only a portion of said slot to define an opening through said first segment, and (iv) a resilient pad fixed in said slot of said first segment and having a face located at said opening and adjacent a surface of said second end of an arm coupling said first segment to said central element when said plurality of segments assume said extended second position;
• placing said mandrel in said collapsed first position;
• threading an end of said wire from said radial groove into said opening and adjacent said resilient pad;
• causing said plurality of arms to rotate said plurality of segments and move said mandrel into said extended second position, thereby pinching and retaining said end of said wire between said surface of said second end of said arm coupling said first segment to said central element and said resilient pad.